Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-29

for . moment her eyes mel GFanville's
Both gained . little eolor-both looke<
away instantly.
ne lOoked At the blesdins 6nser-tool
out hn pocket kniieeeut the the hesl
quickly, With not 70 much ~ . single wort
Of sympathy. and extracted the steel.
She bowed in acknowledgment, folded al
her work and retired.
Shortly aiterward Granville ~ tn
dean oil her white dress among the shrub
bsry at the loot Of the garden-she haG
zone to walk With Mr.. Ashcroft.
The month passed Paeasantly-swi!tly
Only those hours ssem long which are giver
to sadness.
On Saturday, Horace Granville was tc
return to New York. His wound disabled
| him for service, but he had the offer OF q
lucrative position in the war office al
| Washington, and would probably accept,
| He was without iortune-his oaly income
| would be his pension: and now for him
manual toll was out Of the question.
His expected departure was mentioned
among the guests at Rainsford. All were
proiuse in their exclamations OF regret.
An except Miss Wellington. She politely
suppressed . yawn and challenged Mr..
Ashcroft to . game OF pawns. She was
UREA Oh Guess anu "u0lCs Ou . AIkhS "AS
the erickets were &C jubilant. would be out
Of place.
Ashcroft consented readily: but only on
one condition, he said.
Miss Wellington was toe proud to recede
from the arrangement.
"Name your proposition. she said. cold
y.
ut is this: l pledge myself to perform
whatever forfeit You may infict upon me-
and l require the same from you"
His dark eyes. expressing SO much more
than his works, searched her face-she
knew that he meant to put her to some
test. She hesitatsd. He laughed taunt.
insiy; w.u;... -. 10. o,.
whom l would have believed would have
shown the white feather"
She lifted her eyes-cold, proud, unread
able a. those OF the Sphinx.
Il make tho promise readily, remember
ing that you are . gentleman"
He flushed hotly.
II will not forget that I claim to be-"
The company seated themselves. The
game entered upon "a the w%ell.known one
Of 'Couplsts." The first player furnished
. line of poetry. to be matched or rhymed
BY the next player, and 50 on. Failing to
make the requisite rhyme, the delinquent
must pay = forfeit.
Ms. Ashcroft sat next to Margaret. As
last word Of which it VA impossible to
match. She made no attempt to do 70,
but merely said:
We'll. Mr.. Ashcroft"
"Shall I say on?"
She grew . little pale-set her testh-and
answered him, in - cool. even voice:
Yes, you may say on"
And yon promise to PERFORM"
Il have promised"
every we'll, then He leaned over and
whispered in her ear-ths words were to-
inaudible to the others. but Miss
heard them distlnctly-"Kiss
The man you love best
She Redeemed visibly. and q look Of pain
:ame into her eyes.
us this fair, Mr.. Ashcroft"
"Csrtainly-there was no stipulation in |
rgard to the nature OF tho forfeit"
you are right. Shall l take my own
|
"Yes." !
She smiled to herself-Ashcroft, half tri-
lmphant. bade the game 60 on. Horace
softly withdrew. For some rea-
ON tbs sounds OF mirth and happiness
rated harshly on his cart was misery
or him to sit there and watch those gay
'oung faces and listen to the chorus OF
weet voices.
he sought his sunt's private sitting-room.
nut it was dark. She had retired. He
brew himself down on thesoia. The dark
less was pleasant to him. Sometimes it is
O us all.
The silence and utter quiet eoothed him,
md he knew not whether he wal dreaming
n awake.
They val a soft rustic OF garments near
lim--the subtle perfume Of violsts drifted
+ would not have awakened = Numbering
fell on bis face.
A wild thrill shot through his veins. Only
ne woman's kiss-one woman in all the
'orld-could thrill him thus.
He had his arm about her-Jrew her
own beside him-held her close. He felt
er shiver in bis grasp-he knew that she
'as weeping-but he was . man, with all q
mans grand s%el6shness, and he would not
pare her.
There 10 but one woman could move me
bur! Speak to me, my Margaret. May
~ miner"
There wal no reply-but a warm arm
rept around his neck-and for him the
wal light.
II had hoped 50 little. and loved 30 much!
b, Margaret!' he began.
And will you forgive me, Horace, for J
wing you unasked?"
Forgive you! Do we forgive heaven for !
pening to us the golden doors?"
Mr.. Ashcroft was politely astnnished at
,e turn affairs had taken. He left Rains.
I'd two days after Miss Wellington's be-.
'othal was made public. Important bus.
ess called him to New York." Il